The Chainlink

when you get doored- or otherwise hit...

What do you do?

I got doored last summer, and I wasn't badly injured at all, but I insisted on going to the hospital (because my job is physically demanding, and if I had a fracture or even sprain, I would need that to be officially diagnosed).

I was pretty out of it- and felt really foolish about it (because I wasn't badly injured) and didn't know what to do.  A bystander called the cops for me, and the cops were pretty derisive, and told me over and over again that they "can't say who was at fault because we didn't witness it."  But then later they asked me if I wanted to press charges.  Which sounded really harsh and vindictive, and like something I shouldn't do- and in fact, if I have insurance (which I did) then I wouldn't need to press charges.

So I didn't.

Now- half a year later, I'm still making payments on the x-ray, the dr.'s "care" and the ambulance ride (they wouldn't let me walk)

Thanks for letting me vent!

If there is another post, where this question is answered- can you post a link?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Carma Nibarger on February 6, 2012 at 7:08pm

thanks!  In a weird way- I'm glad to know that this is a problem with CPD, and not just me.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on February 7, 2012 at 7:17am

This is criminal.   We live in a world where the real criminals wear uniforms and refuse to do the jobs they were hired to do -instead opting to abuse the very people they exist to help.

Protecting and serving the crap out of us. 

Permalink Reply by Brendan Kevenides on February 7, 2012 at 8:56am

Carma,

It sounds to me like you did all the right things.  To hell with what the police think.  Here's a blog post I wrote about a guy who thought he was ok and didn't go to the hospital: http://www.mybikeadvocate.com/2011/07/after-bike-crash-go-to-damn-h...

Here's some more info about what to do after a bike crash, whether it's a dooring or some other type of accident: http://www.mybikeadvocate.com/2009/10/what-to-do-after-bicycle-acci...

Permalink Reply by Jordan Koss (#440) on February 7, 2012 at 10:31am
Thanks for posting these links. I've bookmarked the second to keep it handy

Brendan Kevenides said:

Carma,

It sounds to me like you did all the right things.  To hell with what the police think.  Here's a blog post I wrote about a guy who thought he was ok and didn't go to the hospital: http://www.mybikeadvocate.com/2011/07/after-bike-crash-go-to-damn-h...

Here's some more info about what to do after a bike crash, whether it's a dooring or some other type of accident: http://www.mybikeadvocate.com/2009/10/what-to-do-after-bicycle-acci...

Permalink Reply by Chris B on February 7, 2012 at 11:09am

Yes, basically in the end always press charges. You can always drop them later if the person wants to settle with your insurance company. Don't rely on police for ANYTHING, this even goes for violent crime victims. It doesn't matter if you have a good friendly cop or not. It was smart to go to the hospital though, since you never know. But that driver should be paying your bills, not you.

If you don't go to the hospital right away, and don't press charges right away, the defendant can say you are trying to scam them, since you were fine after the accident (not to mention sometimes you wake up the next day with a horrible headache and back pain since you don't often feel pain right away).

Always get information on the driver. if they don't want to share take pictures of them, their plate, and damage to your bike and self and their car (do that anyway). Never volunteer statements about feeling guilty or that it was your fault. (My phone auto-uploads all pics as well which is nice in case some maniac wants to smash it).

You may not get anything, but you'll have data you need in case you do get anything in compensation.

When you're hopped up on adrenaline all that advice is hard to follow.

Permalink Reply by John Wayman on February 7, 2012 at 12:04pm

Isn't getting doored pretty much like getting rear ended?? If you were in a bike lane, minding your own business and someone in front of you negligently opened their door into traffic, how could that be your fault??? And therefore, didn't you get the insurance information of the driver??

I got hit and the cop wrote the guy a ticket so it was obvious he was at fault and therefore I submitted a claim to his insurance company and problem solved. I suppose if the owner of the car wasn't going to admit fault and the cop didn't ticket them, it's up in the air but didn't you submit it to your insurance??

Permalink Reply by Carma Nibarger on February 7, 2012 at 10:43pm

I did submit it to my insurance, but because there was no "at fault"... I ended up in debt collect.  Honestly, I'm still thoroughly baffled.  Even the lady that I talked to from DC pretty much said *exactly* what you just said.

Permalink Reply by Carma Nibarger on February 7, 2012 at 10:44pm

Got it bookmarked!  Thanks!

Brendan Kevenides said:

Carma,

It sounds to me like you did all the right things.  To hell with what the police think.  Here's a blog post I wrote about a guy who thought he was ok and didn't go to the hospital: http://www.mybikeadvocate.com/2011/07/after-bike-crash-go-to-damn-h...

Here's some more info about what to do after a bike crash, whether it's a dooring or some other type of accident: http://www.mybikeadvocate.com/2009/10/what-to-do-after-bicycle-acci...

Permalink Reply by Carma Nibarger on February 7, 2012 at 10:46pm

thank you!  sounds like very good advice.  (even though I'm really hoping it won't happen again)

Chris B said:

Yes, basically in the end always press charges. You can always drop them later if the person wants to settle with your insurance company. Don't rely on police for ANYTHING, this even goes for violent crime victims. It doesn't matter if you have a good friendly cop or not. It was smart to go to the hospital though, since you never know. But that driver should be paying your bills, not you.

If you don't go to the hospital right away, and don't press charges right away, the defendant can say you are trying to scam them, since you were fine after the accident (not to mention sometimes you wake up the next day with a horrible headache and back pain since you don't often feel pain right away).

Always get information on the driver. if they don't want to share take pictures of them, their plate, and damage to your bike and self and their car (do that anyway). Never volunteer statements about feeling guilty or that it was your fault. (My phone auto-uploads all pics as well which is nice in case some maniac wants to smash it).

You may not get anything, but you'll have data you need in case you do get anything in compensation.

When you're hopped up on adrenaline all that advice is hard to follow.

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